From baking and dressmaking to first aid and music lessons, we've found the fun and practical domestic helper courses around Singapore that'll enrich your helper's skills.
Life in Singapore with a young family sometimes requires some pretty nifty skill sets. Especially when it comes to keeping on top of our kids’ demands and our busy adult schedules. The juggle is real, people. And since we can’t be in a zillion places at the same time, having a trusty assistant to help steer us through the parenting minefield is totally essential. Step forward: our amazing helpers!
Whether you are a stay-at-home mum, a working mother or something in between, having an extra pair of eyes at the park, extra hands at the soft play centre and extra legs when you’re trying to race between kids at different schools is a godsend. But did you know there are tons of great domestic helper courses in Singapore for your helper to become even more awesome?
We’ve found some fabulous domestic helper courses that we think your helpers will love. We’re talking classes and lessons that will help her embrace and enhance her personal and professional skill-sets. And not only for life with your family either. These courses will help her build a future for life beyond her role as a helper. Read on below!
17 awesome courses in Singapore for your helper
1. Uplifters
Uplifters is a non-profit organisation in Singapore with a mission to help domestic workers transform their lives with their range of empowerment and skill development courses! Its signature programmes include free money management and mental wellbeing courses, structured to equip your helper with the necessary skills to lead a better life. It even has a baby care course to help expectant and new parents, as well as their helpers, be prepared to care for a newborn. Additionally, the site features resources for domestic workers and a free module on taking care of young kids.
Uplifters, sign up and attend courses online
2. Aidha
Aidha believes in “sustainable futures through financial education”. This micro-business school organises domestic helper courses in Singapore that cover important life skills for when your helper is ready to move back home. Your helper can pick up tips on developing good saving habits, prepare for future small businesses and learn how to make sound investments. Classes are held on Sundays over a period of three to nine months, covering everything from entrepreneurship to computer literacy to business management and finance.
Aidha, 748A North Bridge Road, Singapore 198716
3. Foreign Domestic Workers Association for Skills Training (FAST)
With locations all over Singapore and a heap of great subsidised domestic helper courses to choose from, this charity-funded association ensures your helper will not only pick up some fab new accomplishments, but also some FAST new friends. Classes that are currently available include cooking, infant care, English language, stress management, baking and computer literacy. Oh, and a beauty-preneurship course too!
FAST, 3 Chin Cheng Avenue, Singapore 429401
4. Bayanihan Singapore
Filipino helpers who fancy bagging some new skills can join courses ranging from martial arts to dressmaking at the Bayanihan Centre. Programs typically start in March until October. Classes include cool choices such as cosmetology and aromatherapy too!
Bayanihan Centre, 43 Pasir Panjang Road, Singapore 118503
5. Mujahidah Learning Centre
Set up in 2005, and now running a range of different domestic helper courses, the Mujahidah Learning Centre offers all sorts of fun classes. Think international cookery courses, sewing skills, English lessons and computer literacy programs too.
Mujahidah Learning Centre, Mujahidin Mosque, 590 Stirling Road, Singapore 148952
6. Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ACMI)
The ACMI (thankfully, this one has an acronym) has courses open to any nationality that starts from just $100 for 10 lessons. Your helper can try out fun courses from baking, computers and hairdressing, to caregiving, speaking everyday English, small business enterprise classes and even guitar lessons. This centre is popular, and enrolment happens twice yearly, so we advise booking as early as possible.
ACMI, Agape Village, 7A Toa Payoh Lorong 8, #04-01, Singapore 319264
7. Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME)
The HOME Academy was set up in order to provide training and support to domestic workers of all nationalities. Weekly Sunday classes offer programs in English, Mandarin, computer skills, cooking, dressmaking and financial education. Your helper will love the HOMEly feel of this place. It makes it a great place to make some new connections for your helper too!
HOME, register at 495 Geylang Road, #02-01, Singapore 389453
8. International Management School (IMS)
The International Management School offers part-time courses (often run on a Sunday) in all sorts of useful subjects. Think business management, civil engineering, caregiving and culinary design. The best part? Costs are kept low to make sure the diplomas are accessible to everyone.
International Management School, Jalan Besar Plaza, 101 Kitchener Road, #03-39, Singapore 208511
9. Mother & Child
For those of us who leave our tots in the care of our helpers, it certainly helps to know they are in capable hands. The Mother & Child First Aid for Helpers class covers infant and child care essentials such as CPR, accident prevention, first aid and emergency procedures. Not only will your helper be learning worthwhile skills, but this course will also give parents peace of mind. Read our account of what it’s like to resuscitate your own baby and you’ll understand why.
Mother & Child, Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Road, #03-11, Singapore 247933
10. First Aid Tuition
These private domestic helper courses are run by founder Anne Greetham, a fully qualified American Red Cross Instructor and a Registered General Nurse from St. Thomas’ Hospital, London. The Concise First Aid and CPR course, designed for parents, helpers and babysitters, teach infant, child and adult CPR with the use of a mannequin. You’ll get a manual to keep, and the course can take place in your home. Additionally, if you want to qualify for American Red Cross certification, you can sign up for the Full CPR and First Aid course.
First Aid Tuition, contact for more information
11. Parentlink
Parentlink offers an invaluable four-hour first aid course for helpers. The course covers emergency situations involving poisoning, fractures, bleeding, burns and more, as well as teaching CPR and putting in place an emergency plan.
Parentlink, 18 Hougang Avenue 3, Singapore 530018
12. Conscious Parenting Training: Mary Poppins Training
While there might not be any spoonfuls of sugar, flying umbrellas or chimney sweeping involved, the Conscious Parenting Training: Mary Poppins Training domestic helper course looks pretty supercalifragilisticexpialidocious to us. Your helper will learn how to play and interact positively with babies, toddlers and older kids. They’ll also pick up tips on implementing conscious discipline with kiddos in their care when they are being less than their usual angelic selves…
Conscious Parenting Training, Serendipity Centre, 51 Waterloo Street, #02-05, Singapore 187969
13. Chapter Zero
If your domestic helper will be assisting in looking after your little bub, we recommend sending them for The Mindful Nanny course. The lessons include both theory and practical hands-on sessions, covering topics such as respectful caregiving, child-led play, and gentle discipline. There are separate workshops for the caring of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Also, lecture notes come in bilingual form, which is very useful for those who struggle with understanding English. This is one way of involving your helper in respectful parenting.
Chapter Zero, contact for more information
14. Bunda Network
Established by a group of Indonesian professionals in Singapore, the support group runs classes on conversational English for Indonesian domestic workers. Looking to up your helper’s computer literacy skills? Bunda Network also has basic computer lessons that they can enrol in. Best of all, the courses offered are wallet-friendly.
Bunda Network, contact for more information
15. aquaDucks
We know how much the wee tykes love swimming. And if they’re going to be in the pool on most days, you’ll need all hands on deck to supervise them. This programme by aquaDucks teaches helpers personal water safety and supervising of children in aquatic environments as well as emergency rescue techniques. Lessons are conducted by highly qualified instructors who can also converse in Tagalog. This programme is highly recommended for helpers who are caring for little ones.
aquaDucks, several locations across Singapore
16. Dementia Singapore
If your helper is struggling to look after someone who has dementia, this social service agency provides a one-day training that covers various aspects of dementia care. Domestic helpers will be equipped with essential knowledge and skills to handle the challenges that come with caring for persons with dementia. The workshop is conducted in English, Malay and Burmese with lectures, group discussions and even role play.
Dementia Singapore, BS Bendemeer Centre, 20 Bendemeer Road #01-02, Singapore 339914
17. Nation Club
Love this list of courses for domestic helpers? Read this honest and open letter from one domestic worker.
